Swimming pool alarm



July 21, 1959 H. GERBER 2,896,038

SWIMMING POOL ALARM Filed Jan. 18, 1957 INVENTOR, flqeei 659559 United States Patent SWIMMING POOL ALARM Harry Gerber, Glendale, Calif.

Application January 18, 1957, Serial No. 635,049

4 Claims. (c1. 20061.2)

This invention relates to an improved swimming pool alarm.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which will give an alarm when a person or ob ect falls into an unattended swimming pool.

It is a further object of this invention to providea device which will not operate under slight surface dlsturbances such as caused by wind currents.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a warning device which, when actuated, will continue to give an alarm until reset.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partially in section;-

Figure 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of Flgure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the float.

A float is supported at the bottom end 12 of a rod 14 by screwing into same. At a point above the end 12 of the rod a threaded section 16 is provided. A funnel shaped device 18 has a collar 20 which is internally threaded to permit adjustment of the funnel on rod 14.

The upper extremity 21 of rod 14 fits into a pipe 22 permitting the float 10 to rise and fall with the water level in swimming pool 24. A wire 26 is electrically connected to rod 14 and forms a portion of the signalling circuit. The pipe 22 may be supported in any suitable manner and wire 26 projects therefrom.

An electrode 28 also is immersed in the pool in this embodiment same passes through the pool above the -water level and is bent downwardly projecting beneath the surface of water in the pool. This electrode 28 is connected by wire 30 to switch 32 which is grounded at 34 and connected to an electrical source such as battery 36. The other side of the battery is connected through relay 38 to wire 26.

Thus, if a person or object should fall in the pool while switch 32 is closed the wave set up in the pool will contact funnel shaped device 18 and complete the circuit. Float 10 is, of course, made of a suitable insulating material such as rubber. The distance 40 between the funnel shaped device and the normal water level can be controlled by adjusting the height of the funnel on rod 14. When the circuit is closed relay 38 is energized to close switch 42 completing the alarm circuit which includes a suitable signalling device such as bell 44, the switch 42 being grounded at 46.

A resistor 48 connects this circuit to relay 38 to lock the relay in the switch closing position. This resistor is suffcient so that the impedence of relay 38 is not significantly aflected.

Thus, when a wave caused by an object falling in the pool strikes funnel shaped device 18 it completes the electrical circuit to energize relay 38 to close switch 42 and ring bell 44. The relay is held in this position irrespective of the opening of the first mentioned circuit and the bell continues to ring. By opening switch 32 the bell ringing circuit is opened and relay 38 is released to reopen switch 42. Thus, switch 32 may be left open when the pool is in use and closed when the pool is unattended.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodiment of this invention it is readily ap parent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A swimming pool warning system comprising: an electrical conductor immersed in said pool, a second conductor positioned immediately above the surface of said pool and a signalling device connected to said conductors, a float supporting said second conductor above the surface of the pool.

2. A swimming pool warning system comprising: an electrical conductor immersed in said pool, a second conductor positioned immediately above the surface of said pool and a signalling device connected to said conductors, a float supporting said second conductor above the surface of the pool, and a circuit including said signalling device to continue energization of said signalling device once same is actuated.

3. A swimming pool warning device comprising, a float, a funnel shaped device supported upon said float and positioned above the surface of the pool, an electrical circuit connected to said funnel and having a signalling device therein said circuit being completed upon contact of said funnel with water in the pool.

4. A swimming pool warning device comprising, a float, a funnel shaped device supported upon said float and positioned above the surface of the pool, means confining laterally movement of said float while permitting vertical movement thereof, an electrical circuit connected to said funnel and having a signalling device therein said circuit being completed upon contact of said funnel with water in the pool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,655 Stevens Dec. 5, 1916 1,965,837 Herdeg July 10, 1934 2,329,502 Withrow Sept. 14, 1943 2,470,066 Calabrcse May 10, 1949 2,727,112 Davis Dec. 13, 1955 2,774,058 Raichel Dec. 11, 1956 

